MR Mixed Firmware Networks
Starting with release MR 27.1 Meraki is proud to announce several advanced features, however, due to hardware limitations, not all of these features are supported on all our access points. This document will explain the different behaviors that are supported for each AP.
Mixed Firmware Networks
A “Mixed Network" is a dashboard network (wireless-only or combined network type) that includes MR models from multiple Wi-Fi families (see the table below) where some of the MR models support new features and some don’t. The table below explains what those families are and whether or not a feature works in a “mixed” dashboard network. An example of a “mixed” network would be a network that consists of MR34 (802.11ac Wave 1), MR33 (802.11ac Wave 2), and MR36 (802.11ax) access points.
Some of the new advanced features cannot be used in "mixed" networks for consistency reasons. Even when some APs support the feature it will not be possible to enable it or make use of it.
| MR Family | MR Models | Maximum Supported Firmware |
| Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax) | MR57, CW9162, CW9164, CW9166, CW9166D, CW9163E | Current Version |
| Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) |
MR28, MR36, MR36H, MR44, MR45, MR46, MR46E, MR55, MR56, MR76, MR78, MR86 |
Current Version |
|
Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 (802.11ac Wave 2) |
MR20, MR30H, MR33, MR42, MR42E, MR52, MR53, MR53E, MR70, MR74, MR84 | Current Version |
| Wi-Fi 5 Wave 1 (802.11ac Wave 1) | MR32, MR34, MR72 | MR 26.X |
| Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) (and older models) | MR16, MR18, MR24, MR26, MR62, MR66 | MR 26.X |
The features listed below are only supported on MR 27.X firmware. Only Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 APs can run MR 27.X firmware.
| MR 27.X Features | Mix Mode Support |
| NBAR * | ✖ |
| Meraki Health ** | ✅ |
| WPA3 | ✅ |
| iPSK without RADIUS | ✖ |
| Local Auth | ✖ |
| Adaptive Policy | ✖ |
| Secure Connect | ✅ |
| IPv6 (closed beta) | ✖ |
* NBAR integration is only supported on Wi-Fi 6 APs and is not supported on Wi-Fi 5 Wave 2 and older APs.
** Meraki Health is supported on MR 26.X in a limited fashion and fully supported on MR 27.X firmware.
In order to use the features, we encourage customers to create separate networks where only APs that support the desired feature will be used.
Locked Firmware Version Rollback When MR 27.X Features Are Used
To avoid problems where, for example, IPv6 is being used on the network, if a rollback would happen, the feature would cease to exist, causing the network to go down, this behavior would also affect deployments if iPSK without RADIUS is in use, for example. In order to protect our customers from having network down issues or unexpected behaviors, Meraki is locking the capability to downgrade until the features have been disabled. After this, the downgrade will be possible.
Please note that if an MR 27.X feature is enabled in a network, it will not be possible to downgrade the firmware to MR 26.X or older firmware while this feature is enabled or in use. Please disable the feature in order to downgrade to an older firmware. Please reach out to Meraki Support if you have any questions.